Filing system

ABSTRACT

A card registry system comprising a container having a rhomboid outer shape and upwardly diverging side walls, a plurality of dividers pivotally arranged within the container for pivoting at an angle to the side walls, and support means extending across the container between the side walls for supporting the dividers. The dividers have end rails at the opposite ends with offset sections on opposite sides of the divideraligned with the offset sections of the next adjacent divider.

O United States Patent 1191 1111 3,878,630 Proulx Apr. 22, 1975 [5.4] LING SYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor! P Pmuix, Longlsland 172.185 5/1956 Netherlands 40/78.l3 y,N.Y. 840,388 6/1952 Germany 40/78.l3 [73] Assignee: Barry Wright Corporation,

watertown' Mass" Primary Examiner-John H. Wolff [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Milton E. Gilbert [2|] Appl. No.: 348,177

' Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of Scr. No. l2l,l06. March 4. l97l Put. A card registry System Comprising a comamer having 3 75 337 a rhomboid outer shape and upwardly diverging side walls, a plurality of dividers pivotally arranged within [52] us. Cl. 40/78 the Container for p g at an angle to th side alls. 51 1m. 01 B42f 17/00 and pp means extending aeross the eenminer [58] Field of Search 40/78 R, 78.l 1, 78.13, tween the Side walls for Supporting the dividers- The 40/124 2 159 10493 10404 055 162, dividers have end rails at the opposite ends with offset 40/16'4 sections on opposite sides of the divideraligned with [56] References Cited the offset sections of the next adjacent divider.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 2,634,729 4/l953 Weston 40/78.l3

FILING SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATION This a divisional application of my copending application, Ser. No. l2l,l06, filed Mar. 4. I971, now patent No. 3,751,837.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rhomboid shaped containers with upwardly diverging side walls for holding file data are presently available. With present constructions. the accumulated weight of the file data is usually supported by one of the walls of the container. In the most typical arrangement. the weight of the accumulated data when pivoted from the vertical is supported by one of the end walls. Among other things. this type of construction concentrates the weight of the file data at the end of the containers; and with big containers holding large quantities of file data. this requires a sturdy and rigid container.

Rhomboid shaped containers are also disclosed in the prior art wherein a plurality of spacers are arranged between accumulated sections of file data. These spacers extend from side to side of the container and are mounted for pivoting movement within the bottom of the container. With constructions of this type, one or the other of the upwardly diverging side walls of the container function to support one end of the spacers when tipped from the vertical. In addition, cards positioned between the spacers are adapted to be guidably supported by the spacers; and when in tipped position, the cards contact one of the side walls of the container for additional support. In constructions of this type, the load of the tipped file data is concentrated on the side walls of the container. As with containers where the tipped load rests against one of the end walls, this requires special attention in designing the end walls to preclude collapsing outwardly under loaded conditions.

With both of the constructions described above, it is apparent that the containers are not particularly constructed to most uniformly distribute the loading of the file data. Either the end walls or the side walls must be made to support the tipped load of the file data. When all of the file data is tipped in one direction. a single end wall or single side wall will have to bear the entire load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the disadvantages of the prior art constructions are eliminated or reduced to a minimum. The container is constructed so that the load of the file data is more evenly distributed throughout the structure than in prior art constructions. Generally, the container of the present invention is rhomboid shaped with upwardly diverging side and end walls. Positioned at spaced intervals within the containers are separators. These separators are pivotally mounted in the bottom of the container and have shoulders which engage on horizontal seats extending inwardly of the side walls of the container. The seats support the separators in pivoted position. A plurality of dividers are also included within the container and positioned between the spacers. These dividers have end rails of appreciable thickness and offset sections aligned with similar sections on adjacent dividers. The dividers are supported in tipped position by engagement of the end rails with each other and with the separators. The container further includes channel means in the bottom thereof for holding the dividers and separators in proper angular position during use of the file data and repeated pivoting of the dividers relative to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the container incorporating the features of the present invention therein;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the container shown in FIG. 1 partially broken away to show the interior construction thereof; I

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. I showing one of the dividers in tipped position within the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view looking into the container at one end thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dividers at the end of the container opposite from that shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the end rails intermediate its ends;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one of the end rails at its lower end; and

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the orientation of a separator and plurality of dividers when tipped in opposite directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The card registry system of the present invention generally includes a container 1 and a plurality of dividers 2 supported within the container for pivoting movement on the bottom thereof. In addition to the dividers. the container includes a plurality of separators. one of which is shown at 3 in FIG. I. The separators are positioned between groups of dividers. The file data held within the container is positioned between the dividers which function as indexing means for indicating the location of different data.

In construction, the container, made of sheet metal, has a rhomboid shaped outer periphery with the included angles between adjacent sides being 60 and 120 alternately. around the container. The side walls 4 and 5 of the container diverge from each other in an upward direction. Similarly, the end walls 6 and 7 of the container are upwardly diverging.

As shown in FIG. I only a portion of the end wall 6 can be seen since a number of the dividers are portrayed in a pivoted backward position blocking a considerable part of the end wall 6 from view.

A horizontal seat 8 extends inwardly from each of the side walls of the container at a vertical location below the top of the container. The seats are each formed by a piece of sheet metal which is suitably secured at its upper edge to one of the side walls 4 and 5 and its lower end to the bottom wall 9 of the container. The inner surfaces of the sheets define inner side walls 4' and 5' The bottom end of each of the sheets is turned upwardly to form a wall portion 10. This wall portion is spaced from the adjacent side wall to form a channel 11 extending the full length of the side wall. The channel is provided for supporting the dividers as more fully described below.

The bottom of the container is provided with spaced pairs of slots 12. These slots are located inwardly of the channel 11 adjacent opposite side walls. Downwardly extending positioning tabs 13 formed on the bottom of the separators 3 extend through the slots. The tabs position the separators for pivoting movement within the container, in a manner as described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,692.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the dividers includes end rails 14 at opposite ends of a central sheet portion 15. The dividers are each pivotally arranged in uniformly staggered parallel relation for pivoting movement about their lower edges as supported on the bottom of the container. The dividers are adapted to pivot at an acute angle to either side of the vertical. Advantageously, for efficient viewing of the file data located between the dividers, this acute angle is about 20.

Each of the end rails is constructed with offset sections on either side of the center sheet portion. More particularly, with reference to FIG. 6 where one of the end rails is shown in cross section, these offset sections are defined by a first section 16 extending inwardly of the associated end of the sheet on one side of the sheet and a second section 17 extending outwardly of the end of the sheet on the opposite side thereof. The two sections I6 and 17 are connected together in spaced relation by a third section 18 to provide the end rail with an appreciable thickness. Each of the end rails also includes a fourth section 19 which extends inwardly of the end of the sheet on the same side as the section 17. The sections 16 and 19 form a recess 20 in which the end of the sheet 15 is bent over and secured to the section 18 by rivets 21.

The end rails at either end of the dividers are arranged in uniformly staggered relation so that the offset sections on opposite sides of each divider are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the axis of pivoting of the divider with one of the offset sections of the next adjacent divider. More particularly, at each side of the container, the offset section 16 of the end rail of any one of the dividers is aligned with the offset section 17 of the end rails of the next adjacent dividers on either side of the one divider.

With the end rail construction as described above, each divider is supported by the divider immediately behind through engagement of the end rails. The space formed between each of the end rails provides a free region in which the file data is positioned. As shown in FIG. 5, the file data may include a plurality of cards 22 positioned in shingled-like orientation across the width of the container. The cards are held in position by longitudinally extending rods 23 engaging within notches 24 in the lower edges of the card.

The separators 3, which are located between grouos of dividers, are each comprised of a flat plate portion 25 and shoulder means 26 extending from each end 27 of the plate. The shoulder means are adapted to be supported by one of the seats 8 extending inwardly from the side walls of the container. More particularly, when the separator is pivoted backwardly in the containers as shown in FIG. 1, the left hand shoulder means 26 will engage upon the seat 8 at the left hand side of the container. The right hand side of the separator will, in turn, be free of any support on the seat 8 which extends along the right hand side of the container. The lower edges of the separators are notched at 25 to receive the rods 23 and operate to hold the rods in proper alignment between the end walls of the container.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the seat 8 is vertically positioned along the side of the container so that when supporting one of the shoulder means 26 of a separator, the associated ends 27 of the separator will be spaced from the side wall 4'. In addition to the spaced orientation of the separators from the container side walls, the end rails of the dividers will be similarly oriented when tipped in either direction. This spaced relation is shown in FIG. 3. The end walls 6 and 7 of the container angle outwardly to the same extent as the separators. They thus provide the same type of support for the dividers immediately adjacent the ends of the container.

With the above construction, the dividers between each separator will be fully supported by their end rail engagement with each other and with the separator. Only the separator will, in turn, be supported by the seat 8. Accordingly, the load of the supported file data between the dividers and separators will produce a downwardly directed force component on the seat 8. This will eliminate some of the forces which would otherwise tend to collapse the side walls if the separators and dividers were permitted to rest directly on the side walls.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the opposite end rails of the dividers are shown as extending downwardly beyond the sheet portions 15 and into the opposite channels 11. At the lower ends, the end rails are constructed, as shown in FIG. 7, without the section 19. In cross section, the lower end of each of the end rails has a maximum crosssectional dimension as measured in a direction extending along the dividers which is substantially equal to the width of the channel 11 as measured along the same same direction. More particularly, the length of the sections 16 and 17 of the end rails is substantially equal to each other and to the dimension 27 across the bottom of the channel. With this construction, the dividers are held within the channels in parallel relation to the end walls of the container and cannot be turned relative thereto as they are pivoted back and forth or when the container is not completely filled with dividers. Although the sections 16 and 17 at the lower end of the end rails are shown as being equal in length, the section 17 may be longer. This may be advantageous, for example, to fully support the end rail of the adjacent dividers and prevent catching as they are pivoted relative to each other. The length of the section 17 will depend on the amount of offset between each divider.

The end wall portion 10 of each of the channels extends at an angle to the vertical and diverges from the side wall to which it is immediately adjacent. To permit free pivoting of the dividers within the channels, the wall portion 10 adjacent one side of the container extends at an angle to the vertical which is at least as great as the angle to which the opposite side wall extends from the vertical.

To permit smooth pivoting of the dividers from one angular position to another, the lower edge 28 of the intermediate section 18 of each of the dividers is curved convexly. In addition, the sections 16 and 17 of the end rails terminate at the top of the curved edge 28. With reference to FIG. 5, the section 16 of each of the end rails terminates in a lower end 29 while section 17 terminates in the lower end 30. With this construction. the dividers may be pivoted into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 without one of the dividers sliding under the other. Any such sliding would permit the dividers to ride up on each other when pivoted back and forth.

In a manner similar to the construction of the end rails, the separators are each provided with a foot 31 at either end which is adapted to be positioned within one of the channels 11. The feet of each of the separators terminate in lower ends 32 for engaging with lower ends 29 or 30 of the adjacent oppositely pivoted divider. In this way, the adjacent dividers are held in proper orientation relative to the separators and sliding of one under the other is prevented.

I claim:

1. In a card registry system having a plurality of substantially rectangular dividers with opposed end rails of appreciable thickness and sheets having ends connecting the end rails, the improvement comprising:

a. means whereby said dividers are pivotally arranged in uniformly laterally staggered parallel relation for pivoting movement about parallel horizontal axes adjacent their lower edges through an acute angle to either side of the vertical, said laterally staggered relation being in the same direction as said horizontal axes;

b. each of said end rails at both ends of each of said sheets comprising:

1. a first section extending in a direction inwardly of the associated end of the sheet on one side thereof and parallel thereto,

2. a second section extending in a direction outwardly of the associated end of the sheet on the opposite side thereof and parallel thereto, and

3. a third section connecting said first and second sections together in spaced relation to provide said thickness; and

c. the first and second sections of each of said end 2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein: a. the end rails at each end of the dividers further comprising a fourth section extending inwardly of the associate end of the sheet on said opposite side to define with said first and third sections a recess in which the end of said sheet is positioned.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein: a. the end rails extend downwardly below the sheet; b. the lower edge of the third section of each end rail is convexly curved;

c. the first and second sections terminate at their lower ends at the top of the curved edge of the third section; and

d. the fourth section terminates at its lower end at the bottom edge of the sheet.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QETTFICATE 0F CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,878,630

DATED April 22, 1975 INVENTOR(S) 1 Romeo T. Proulx It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: 9'

(1) Correct surname of Inventor is "Proulx" (2) Column 3, Line H9: Last word of line should read "groups" G Signed and Sealed this second Day Of September 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting ()jficer (mnmissr'mwr of Patents and Tradcmarkx q 

1. In a card registry system having a plurality of substantially rectangular dividers with opposed end rails of appreciable thickness and sheets having ends connecting the end rails, the improvement comprising: a. means whereby said dividers are pivotally arranged in uniformly laterally staggered parallel relation for pivoting movement about parallel horizontal axes adjacent their lower edges through an acute angle to either side of the vertical, said laterally staggered relation being in the same direction as said horizontal axes; b. each of said end rails at both ends of each of said sheets comprising:
 1. a first section extending in a direction inwardly of the associated end of the sheet on one side thereof and parallel thereto,
 2. a second section extending in a direction outwardly of the associated end of the sheet on the opposite side thereof and parallel thereto, and
 3. a third section connecting said first and second sections together in sPaced relation to provide said thickness; and c. the first and second sections of each of said end rails thereby being laterally offset from each other in a direction parallel to said horizontal axes with the first section of each end rail aligned with the second section of the adjacent end rail on the next adjacent divider whereby the overall outer boundary defined by all of said dividers is rhomboid in shape.
 1. a first section extending in a direction inwardly of the associated end of the sheet on one side thereof and parallel thereto,
 1. In a card registry system having a plurality of substantially rectangular dividers with opposed end rails of appreciable thickness and sheets having ends connecting the end rails, the improvement comprising: a. means whereby said dividers are pivotally arranged in uniformly laterally staggered parallel relation for pivoting movement about parallel horizontal axes adjacent their lower edges through an acute angle to either side of the vertical, said laterally staggered relation being in the same direction as said horizontal axes; b. each of said end rails at both ends of each of said sheets comprising:
 2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein: a. the end rails at each end of the dividers further comprising a fourth section extending inwardly of the associate end of the sheet on said opposite side to define with said first and third sections a recess in which the end of said sheet is positioned.
 2. a second section extending in a direction outwardly of the associated end of the sheet on the opposite side thereof and parallel thereto, and 